In the spirit giving, the Coaches Association of Ontario is calling all students, athletes and parents to find the best coaches in the biggest province in Canada. Starting on December 17th, you have been says “Thanks Coach” by nominating them for an Ontario Coaching Excellence Award or entering the My Coach Video Contest where $800 is up for grabs.

Ways To Participate:

Do you know a Coach that has EVOLVED their game? Does HE stay positive under all circumstances? Does SHE make sure that practices are challenging, and fun? Show us how your coach is evolving his or her game and the lives of the athletes they coach and you could win $800. Your coach could also win a weekend pass to attend professional development sessions at the Ontario Coaches Conference in Hamilton, Ontario on February 22-24, 2013.

To enter the contest upload your video to YouTube and submit the online registration form no later than February 1st. A judging panel will select the top videos, which will be viewed by the attendees of the CAO’s annual Coaches Conference.

The top videos will then be posted online and voting will open to the general public. The video that receives the most votes will be announced at the Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards on Saturday April 13th at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto.

Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards

The awards recognize the importance of leadership, performance and the value of human insight which are all integral to great coaching. We invite you to nominate your coach in one of the following categories before February 8, 2013:

Grassroots Coach: Two award recipients will be selected in this category; a dedicated male coach and a dedicated female coach who primarily coach youth or children. Coaches recognized in this category are inspirational role models in the community garnering the confidence and glowing praise from parents and local program leaders.

Good to Great Coach: Two award recipients will be selected in this category; an outstanding male coach and an outstanding female coach who have coached athletes that have achieved a high standard of performance in competitive sport. The coaching focus is on performance excellence and competing to win. The coach would be recognized as the primary coach who identifies talented individuals; who creates a training environment that further develops athletic skills and abilities to a higher level of success in competition over a period of time.

Trailblazer Coach: This coach is an innovative out-of- the-box thinker, a creative change agent who inspires others to follow, has made a difference in their sport or for the athletes they coach. Taking the road less traveled is often bumpy and this coach embraced the goal, persevered and made things better for their sport for years to come.

Everyone Matters Coach: This award recipient has influenced the culture of their team, their organization or community by embracing diversity and differences. Over a sustained period of time they have demonstrated the value of an inclusive approach through acceptance and accessibility.

Andy Higgins Life Time Achievement Award: One award recipient in Ontario may be selected in this category; an outstanding coach who has made a significant contribution to coaching in Ontario over a very long sustained period of time; 20+ years.

The awards presentation will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2013 in Toronto.